Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-02-10


son that uerl bed po,s're stttin on"
Like most gamblers. Mr.. Hamlin was super.
stitious He rose hastily from the bed and
took chair beside the window The wind
shook it as if the discontented spirit of Mr.
Byways We're without, re-enforcing his last
injunction
81 don't know if you remember him." said
Peg, feverislily "He was man ez he'd suf
fered All that he loved-wife, fammerly.
friends--had gone back on him. He tried to
make light of it afore folks, hnt with me,
being poor gal, he let himself out ! never
told anybody this. don't know why he told
me- don't know continued Peg, with a
sniille, why he wanted to make me unhappy,
too. But he made me promise that, il he left
me his fortune, I'd never, never--so help me
God-never share it with any man or woman
that toued. ] didn't think it would be hard
to keep that promise then, Mr.. Hamlin, for
was very poor and hedn't a friend nor liv-
ing bein' that was kind to me but him"
"But you've as good as broken your prom
Use already" said Hamlin "You've given
Jack money! as l know
"Only what made myself. Listen TO me-
Mr.. Hamlin. When Jack proposed to me,
offered him about what kalkiated could
earn myself. When he went away, and was
sick and in trouble, came here and took this
hotel. | knew that by hard work could
make it pay. Don't laugh at me, please
did work hard, and did make it pay-without
takin' one cent of the fortin' And all
made, worlin' by night and day, gave to
him. ! did, Mr.. Hamlin / amt SO hard to
him as you think, though might be kinder,
/ KNOW
Mr.. Hamlin rose, deliberately resumed his
coat, watch, hat and oyercoat When he was
completely dressed again he turned to Peg
"Do you mean to say that you've been givin'
all the money you made here to this AL first
class cherubimp
eyes; but he didn't know where got it.
Oh MIR. HalnIin! he didn't know that"
do | understand you. that he's bin buck
ing agn faro with the money that you raised
on hash. And you maxim the hash"
But he didn't know that. He wouldn't
hev took il if I'd told him"
@No, he'd hev died fust 2 said Mr.. Hamlin
gravely why, he's that sensitive-is Jack
Folinsbee--that it nearly kills him to take
money even of me. But where does this
angel reside when he isn't fightin' the tiger,
and is, so to speak, visible to the naked eye!"
He-he-stops here,' said Peg, with an
awkward blush.
II see Might l ask the number of his
room-or should l be a-disturbing him in
his meditations" continued Jack Hamlin,
with grave politeness.
"Oh then you'll promise: And you'll talk
to him, and make him promiseE
"Of course, said Hamlin quietly.
'And you'll remember he's sick-very sickl
His rooms No. A, at the end Of the hall. Per-
haps I'd better go with you"
"Tn find it."
"And you won't he too hard on hing
an be father TO him" said Hamlin de-
murely, as he opened the door and stepped
into the hall. But he hesitated moment,
and then turned and gravely held out his
hand. Peg took it timidly. He did not seem
quite in earnest; and his black eyes, vainly
questioned, indicated nothing. But he shook
her hand warmly, and the next moment was
gone.
He found the room with no difficulty. A
faint cough from within, and queruleus
protest, answered his knock. Mr.. Hamlin
entered without further ceremony. A sick
ening smell of drugs, palpable flavor of
stale dissipation, and the wasted figure of
Jack Folinsbee half dressed, extended upon
the bed, greeted him. Mr., Hamlin was for
an instant startled There were hollow cir
cles round the sicA mans eyes; there was
palsy in his trembling limbs; there was disco
luton in his feverish breath.
"What's upp he asked huskily and nerv-
ously.
II am, and / want you to get up too"
81 can't, Jack. I'm regularly done up"
He reached his shaking hand toward glass
half filed with suspicious, pungent smelling
liquid; but Mr. Hamlin stayed it.
"Do you want to get back that $4,000 you
lostT
Yes
"wen, get up, and marry that woman
down stairs.
Folinsbee laughed half Historically, half
sardonically.
''She won't give it to me-"
"No; but will
''You7"
Eyes
Folinsbee, with an attempt at reckless
laugh, rose, trembling and with difficulty, to
his swollen feet Hamlin eyed him narrow
ly, and then babe him lie down again. ITO
morrow will do, he said, and then" -
If / don't" -
If you DON'T responded Hamlin, "why,
III just wade in and cut you outln
But ON the morrow Mr.. Hamlin was spared
that possible act Of disloyalty; for, in the
night, the already hesitating spirit Of Mr..
Jack Folinsbee tool; flight on the wings Of
the southeast storm. When or how it hap
pcned, nobody knew Whether this last ex-
element, and the near prospect Of matri-
mony, or whether an overdose OF anodyne
had fastened his end, was never known.
only know that when they came TO awaken
him the next morning the best that was left
of him-a face still beautiful and
boy like-looked up coldly at the
fearful eyes Of Peg Moffat. 1T
serves me right, its judgment, 2 she said IN
a low whisper to Jack Hamlin; afor God
knew that I'd broken my word; and willed
all nv -rsarsal.-rg "a Z m